Have you been watching the new crime drama that everyone's talking about on Channel 4? Get Millie Black is Booker Prize Winner Marlon James' break into television and it's making waves for all the right reasons.
Tamara Lawrance, known for Time and Mr Loverman, plays Millie-Jean, a brilliant detective who's left Scotland Yard to return to her roots in Kingston. There, she immerses herself in her work within the Missing Persons unit of the Jamaican Police Force. She uncovers a shocking truth behind the return of a missing person, who is alive after being presumed dead.
When a young girl goes missing, connections are formed with cases back in the UK, and another Scotland Yard detective, Luke Holborn (Toxic Town actor Joe Dempsie) arrives in Jamaica, causing to investigate the link.
Speaking of her character, Tamara told Channel 4, "Millie Black is irreverent, belligerent, hawk-eyed and driven by her heart for justice. She doesn’t mince words and is not remotely interested in being palatable.
"She tows the line between loneliness and independence. She’s a detective, a sister, a friend – but in that order."
Get Millie Black cast
• Tamara Lawrance (The Silent Twins, Kindred) as Millie-Jean Black
• Chyna McQueen (TV debut) as Hibiscus• Gershwyn Eustache Jnr (Joan, Fortitude) as Curtis
• Joe Dempsie (Skins, Showtrial) as Luke Holborn
• Anjli Mohindra (Bodyguard, Fear) as Meera Thakur
• Belinda Reid (Bange Up Abroad, It's A Date) as Barracat
• Paul Issa as Leddick Somerville
• Shernet Swearine (TV debut) as Janet Fenton
• Christopher Daley (One Love) as Lance Stennet
• Peter John Thwaites (TV debut) as Freddie Somerville
• Paul Issa (Heaven Wants Out) as Leddick Somerville
• Nestor Aaron Absera (Bob Marley: One Love) as Corsica
• Jomo Dixon (Good Country People) as Daniel
• Derrick Levy (Bob Marley: One Love) as Richie
• Patra as Hit Girl
Where was Get Millie Black filmed?
The 5-part drama was predominately filmed on location in the Caribbean Island, with many scenes captured in the capital city of Kingston. Plantations, beaches and nearby countryside were also used.
A few scenes were also shot in London.
"The Jamaica we immerse ourselves in across this series is not sand, sea and sex, but a bolder, darker version of the country never seen on screen. The Jamaica my mother kicked around in. A dark as night noir set in Jamaican technicolour." says Marlon James, the show's creator.
Is Get Millie Black based on a book?
Known for his intricate storytelling and richly layered characters in novels like A Brief History of Seven Killings, Marlon James brings his signature style to the screen in this gripping crime thriller, which is based on one of the author's short stories.
While the series is not based on a true story, the writer Marlon Black did take inspiration from his mother, who was a detective in Jamaica in the 1950s.
"Before there was Millie Black, there was Detective Inspector Shirley Dillon-James, blazing a trail where there was none, and making her name by reading clues, not about what happened, but what was going to happen.
"My mother became famous for using book and street smarts to stop crime before it occurred by picking up on those clues that made it inevitable. You could spend most of your life figuring out such a person, and I failed while trying—but I did find inspiration for our lead."
Where can I watch Get Millie Black?
The initial episode of Get Millie Black will air at 9pm on Channel 4 on Wednesday 5th March. The first two episodes will be shown on consecutive days, with the second episode airing on Thursday 6th March.
You can also stream the full series of Get Millie Black on Channel 4.
Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Yours at Bauer Media. She's a bookworm who is passionate about TV, film and theatre. She enjoys cooking, scrapbooking, playing board games and walking her three dogs.